Our early 5:00 alarm rang and in no time we were in our car off to O’Hare. Our flight on AA via Miami arrived at Managua at 1:30pm. We were met and escorted to the VIP Lounge. Our passports and luggage’s were handled by Airport representatives. Once everything was taken care of we then proceeded to a waiting car (Mercedes Benz minivan) and started our 2 ½ hour drive to Guacalito de la Isla. The drive at times was slow because there is only one, two way road to our destination, we passed through towns and were slowed down by traffic. The good news is there are plans for an airport to be built for commuter flights from Managua to Guacalito by June 2015.
MUKUL which means SECRET is located on Manzanilo Beach. Manzanilo Beach is a gorgeous private cove and very wide beach with huge waves, a paradise for surfers.
We were greeted upon arrival at Mukul by the Host of the House. A warm welcome with cool towels and homemade rum cocktails, a Nicaraguan national drink. We toured the lobby area or better known as the “living-room” which is the highlight of the Mukul’s hospitality. 
The idea of Mukul was a vision of Don Carlos Pellas, his vision was to share the immaculate natural beauty of Nicaragua to all who visit. Mukul is a natural sanctuary where guests will be treated as family, free to enjoy luxurious pampering while connecting with the land, culture and people of this country.
We were then whisked off to our Bohio (Private Guest Suites), I must say one of the best Bohio’s (pronounced Baa-He- ya) I’ve ever seen.
Our personal experience:
Bohio’s have the best location with the amazing views because they are set high in the hills. Although, there are handicapped guest services available too.- Villas are available on the beach front offer great views too. There are one or two bedrooms villas available. Each Bohio comes with fully packed refrigerator complimentary, ice maker, daily snacks complimentary and even Pellas Rum! Rooms are very comfortable – queen beds only though, so don’t expect king size. They all have plunge pools but they are not heated.
- Golf experience. Tough course, especially during the dry season. But all in all, a fun course especially the last hole # 18 where you end up on the beach. It is really beautiful especially during high season! The club house is fun and has great food. As you are on the beach, there are hammocks, lounge chairs and the best place to watch the surfer dudes and hang out with them.
Dining – best food ever. All organic, very flavorful with some of the best most friendly waiters and waitress hand-picked by the hotel. There are three restaurants altogether, and once a week there is a BBQ on the beach– and that was excellent too.- Rum tasting every day at 4pm in the living room area. A great chance to learn about rum making, the Pellas family history and tasting of 5, 7, 12, 18 and 25 year old Flor de Cana (Sugar Cane Rum).
- Spa is located in the hills with six separate spa experiences. I must say one of the most unique spa treatments I have ever had the pleasure to receive. Excellent therapists.
- Yoga free every morning at 8am – excellent way to start the day.
- Surf lessons, bike rentals and hiking are all available.
- Turtles hatch in March.
- There’s another beach adjacent to Manzanilo called Guacalito Beach. You can enjoy pristine beach here too. It’s great for snorkeling, stand up paddle boards, and kayak rental. The restaurant will make a picnic lunch for you to take. And they will supply towels too for your beach experience. There are couple of islands nearby to kayak to and adventure out to as well.
Best time to travel to Mukul, Nicaragua:
The dry season runs from December through April. During these months visitors are guaranteed to not be hindered by storms during their trip. October tends to be one of the wettest months of the year so you would probably want to avoid coming down then. November through January tends to be the cool months with less humidity. Advisor Tip: Remember the term “cool” does not mean it is cold. In Nicaragua “cool” means the temperature will dip down into the low 70’s in the evenings.
Nicaragua has year round great waves but the best waves and large swells usually coincide with the rainy season from May through October. Remember, though, there are always great waves in Nicaragua.
Best time to travel is during the rainy season from mid-May through October. Plants, trees and flowers are all flourishing with the rain showers that happen during the afternoons. The rain can also cause havoc on the dirt roads in rural areas so be sure to rent a 4WD vehicle if you plan on driving on your own.